Masere new vice-minister to help PM on foreign investment

PRIME Minister James Marape has announced the appointment of Ijivitari MP Richard Masere as vice-minister to assist prime minister on direct foreign investment.
Marape told The National that the Government was setting up a special unit in the Prime Minister’s Department to deal directly with those foreign companies who want to come into PNG to invest.
Masere was recently appointed Minister for Agriculture, replacing Markham MP Koni Iguan who was appointed deputy speaker.
Marape, however, said the agriculture ministry would have two vice-ministers instead of three.
“Many genuine investors are often lost in the systematic red tapes as well as personal interests that often chase away good genuine business,” he said.
“We want to build a one-stop processing facility for genuine business to come enter legally into areas foreigners can do business.”
Marape said this office under Masere and special envoy foreign direct investment ambassador Gabriel Dusava would coordinate with Foreign Affairs and Trade, Investment Promotion Authority, banks and all other onshore legal processes to ensure ease of entering into legitimate allowed foreign business spaces in the country.
“It is a very important restructure to make our country an easy place to do business, cutting away red tapes without compromising the process we have in place,” he said.
Masere acknowledged Marape for appointing him to the position.
He had worked with several multi-national companies for 30 years, 20 of those years in senior executive management positions.
“I bring with me that knowledge and experience to this new role,” he said.
“On behalf of my family and my people of Ijivitari, I would like to thank our prime minister for recognising and appointing me to this very important position.
“I am looking forward to the challenge and keen to work closely with the prime minister and key economic ministers to develop and progress key investment opportunities for Papua New Guinea,” Masere said.